Veterans' Outreach Case of the Week 5-30-22

Celebrate Veterans on Memorial Day

Veterans’ Outreach mission is to serve and honor all veterans.  Memorial Day is a day for all of us to think about what it means to serve our nation.  A Veteran is a special unselfish person that is willing to offer their life to ensure our nations’ protection. 

We celebrate Veterans that have passed on and we honor their memory in our thoughts and in our hearts and we thank them.  The following is a short history of how “Memorial Day” began.

The story of Memorial Day begins in the summer of 1865, when a prominent local druggist, Henry C. Welles, mentioned to some of his friends at a social gathering that while praising the living veterans of the Civil War it would be well to remember the patriotic dead by placing flowers on their graves. 

Nothing resulted from this suggestion until he advanced the idea again the following spring to General John B. Murray. Murray, a civil war hero and intensely patriotic, supported the idea wholeheartedly and marshalled veterans’ support. Plans were developed for a more complete celebration by a local citizens’ committee headed by Welles and Murray.

On May 5, 1866, the Village was decorated with flags at half mast, draped with evergreens and mourning black. Veterans, civic societies, and residents, led by General Murray, marched to the strains of martial music to the three village cemeteries. There impressive ceremonies were held, and soldiers’ graves decorated. 

One year later, on May 5, 1867, the ceremonies were repeated. In 1868, Waterloo joined with other communities in holding their observance on May 30th, in accordance with General Logan’s orders. It has been held annually ever since.

Waterloo held the first formal, village wide, annual observance of a day dedicated to honoring the war dead. On March 7, 1966, the State of New York recognized Waterloo by a proclamation signed by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. 

This was followed by recognition from Congress of the United States when the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 587 on May 17th and May 19th, 1966, respectively. 

This reads in part as follows: “Resolved that the Congress of the United States, in recognition of the patriotic tradition set in motion one hundred years ago in the Village of Waterloo, NY, does hereby officially recognize Waterloo, New York as the birthplace of Memorial Day …”

On May 26, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson, signed a Presidential Proclamation recognizing Waterloo as the Birthplace of Memorial Day.

Buster's Brigade

Buster’s Brigade Helps Veterans’ Pets

Recently, a Veterans’ Outreach team member reached out to a local non-profit called Buster’s Brigade.  Buster’s Brigade is committed to providing financial and material assistance for the basic and emergency needs of dogs and cats in Mahoning County and surrounding areas. 

When Buster’s Brigade learned about veterans with pets in need of food and care, they wasted no time in donating several large bags of food.  They offered their help for veterans in need of help with their animal’s care.  They have a deep passion for pets, and just want to help families keep their pets healthy and at home.

Thank you, Buster’s Brigade!

Veterans' Outreach Case of the Week 5-16-22

Agencies Work Together to Aid Veteran in Trouble

A veteran found himself in a situation where he would be homeless in a matter of days.  An agency was trying to provide assistance but needed documentation that the veteran did not have easy access to.   He had a storage unit that held the documents that he needed to prevent homelessness.  So, this other agency referred him to Veterans’ Outreach.

Veterans’ Outreach was able to remit the unpaid rent of the storage unit, the veteran was able to gather his documents, and the other agency was able to provide him housing.  This is how Veterans’ Outreach works with like-minded agencies to provide the best solution for veterans’ issues that overwhelm them without duplicating services.

Memorial Day Honors the Nation’s Deceased Military

Most people think of Memorial Day as the kickoff of our summer season, but it means so much more and it began with a selfless act of brotherly love.

 

Last year, at this time, my brother…my hero…A Vietnam Veteran…was still alive. He passed away at the age of 77 the week of Independence Day, 2021.  I will always keep my brother’s story and passion deep in my heart, mind, and soul.

 

He was proud of the mission and support that Veterans’ Outreach has given to so many veterans over nearly 3 decades with respect and honor in most every way, shape, and form.

 

Today without my father, Pearl Harbor Survivor and brother gone, our son, Captain Ben, carries the freedom torch for our family.

 

Really, every veteran, I look to them as brothers and sisters. Our charity lives for them by serving and honoring them.

 

This Memorial Day, take a moment in prayer, to give thankful tribute to all our veterans that are no longer here with us!

 

Below is the history of our Memorial Day that I had placed in last year’s Memorial Day Newsletter edition. I think that it is worth repeating again!

 

Memorial Day was started by former slaves on May, 1, 1865 in Charleston, SC to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers who had been buried in a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp.

 

They dug up the bodies and worked for two weeks to give them a proper burial as gratitude for fighting for their freedom. They then held a parade of 10,000 people, led by 2,800 black children where they marched, sang and celebrated. 

 

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.

 

Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. 

 

The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

 

The ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. 

 

After speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.

 

The city of Waterloo, New York, was designated as the “Birthplace of Memorial Day” via a Congressional resolution and Presidential proclamation commemorating a patriotic observance held in that town one hundred years earlier.

 

The story of Memorial Day begins in the summer of 1865, when a prominent local druggist, Henry C. Welles, mentioned to some of his friends at a social gathering that while praising the living veterans of the Civil War it would be well to remember the patriotic dead by placing flowers on their graves. 

 

Nothing resulted from this suggestion until he advanced the idea again the following spring to General John B. Murray. Murray, a civil war hero and intensely patriotic, supported the idea, wholeheartedly, and marshaled veterans’ support.

Plans were developed for a more complete celebration by a local citizens’ committee headed by Welles and Murray.

 

On May 5, 1866, the Village was decorated with flags at half mast, draped with evergreens and mourning black. Veterans, civic societies and residents, led by General Murray, marched to the strains of martial music to the three village cemeteries. There were impressive ceremonies held and soldiers’ graves decorated.  One year later, on May 5, 1867, the ceremonies were repeated. It has been held annually ever since.  

 

Waterloo held the first formal, village wide, annual observance of a day dedicated to honoring the war dead. On March 7, 1966, the State of New York recognized Waterloo by a proclamation signed by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. 

 

This was followed by recognition from Congress of the United States when the House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 587 on May 17th and May 19th, 1966 respectively. 

 

This reads in part as follows: “Resolved that the Congress of the United States, in recognition of the patriotic tradition set in motion one hundred years ago in the Village of Waterloo, NY, does hereby officially recognize Waterloo, New York as the birthplace of Memorial Day …”

 

On May 26, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson, signed a Presidential Proclamation recognizing Waterloo as the Birthplace of Memorial Day.

 

I hope this gives you a little more reverence to the meaning of this solemn day!

Share this entry to all Americans!

Arlington National Cemetary

22 Things You Never Knew About Arlington National Cemetery

Reader’s Digest, Emily Goodman Updated: Oct. 22, 2021

Arlington National Cemetery honors those who have fought for our country’s freedom and is also steeped in a treasure trove of rich history.

Read more

Veterans' Outreach Case of the Week 5-9-22

Northcoast Miata Club Hosts Sock Drive

Todd and Dee Tannehill were the driving force for the Northcoast Miata Club to host a sock drive to benefit veterans.  The club had an early spring car cruise called “Freeze Your Butt Off”.  The participants were asked to donate a pair of socks to keep veterans warm.  They gathered 189 pairs of socks!

The socks will be warmly received by veterans.  Thank you, Todd, Dee, and all those that participated.  

 

Veterans' Outreach Case of the Week 5-2-22

Veteran and Children Escape Domestic Abuse

A female veteran with 4 children escaped a domestic abuse situation.  She was very distraught and didn’t know where to turn.  They had no place to live, no food or clothing.  She desperately didn’t want to go to a shelter with the children.  

She ended up at Veterans’ Outreach.  The Services Director spent a lot of time with her to understand the entire situation and develop a workable solution.  Veterans’ Outreach was able to help her with immediate temporary housing and referrals to partnering agencies to establish permanent housing.  They were all able to pick out some clothing and hygiene items.  She also received boxes of food and some gas cards.  She arrived at Veterans’ Outreach dazed and confused, but left knowing that she could care for her children and that people have her back.